Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy Bills Rebate

Lord Teverson: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in distributing the £400 energy bill discount to households that are off-grid; and what plans they have to expedite this process.

Lord Callanan: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Climate to the Hon. Member for St Albans on 22nd September 2022 to Question 48498. In addition to this, the Government continues to work with consumer groups and suppliers on the delivery of the Scheme and is exploring options for other ways in which customers who do not have a domestic electricity contract might receive similar support. The full suite of help from the Government is covered on GOV.UK.

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to (1) tackle climate change, and (2) reduce emissions.

Lord Callanan: The Net Zero Strategy, published in October 2021, is a cross-economy strategy which keeps the UK on the path to net zero tackling climate change and emissions.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provideeconomic support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) this winter, given the increase in inflation.

Lord Callanan: The Government has reversed the National Insurance rise, which will save SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, cut fuel duty for 12 months and brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to protect small businesses from high energy costs over the winter. The Business Support Helpline on 0800 998 1098 enables SMEs in England to access support of all kinds, including grants, loans and business advice. Equivalent services are available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) helps ensure that smaller businesses can access loans and other kinds of finance for working capital and investment. The current iteration of the scheme was announced on 20 July 2022 and supports finance up to £2 million per business group. RLS is available through 38 accredited lenders including banks, asset finance providers, regional and social lenders.

Conditions of Employment and Living Wage

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy for ensuring that their funding promotes (1) fair work, and (2) paying people a real living wage.

Lord Callanan: The National Living Wage (NLW) is part of our wider commitment to ensuring a labour market that works for everyone, both in terms of fair pay and fair working conditions. Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the NLW, we protect the lowest paid within our society. We are clear that anyone entitled to be paid the minimum wage should receive it and we take robust enforcement action against employers who do not pay their staff correctly.

Research Councils: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding has been allocated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Councils in the last five years to (1) legacy, and (2) legal projects, in Northern Ireland which involve (a) transitional justice, (b) dealing with the past, (c) human rights, and (d) amnesties; which (i) university departments, and (ii) non-academic project partners, have benefited, and by how much; and how a variety of political views has been maintained in the funding allocation.

Lord Callanan: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding is allocated according to research excellence as assessed by independent peer review. UKRI fund a number of projects in Northern Ireland but do not hold data in the requested format.

Natural Gas: Production

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to strengthen the UK's energy security through an increase in domestic gas production.

Lord Callanan: The Government plans to strengthen energy resilience and manage declining domestic gas production through the North Sea Transition Authority’s launch of the 33rd licensing round on 7 October 2022. Applications for the 33rd round will be open until 12 January 2023 and the first licence awards should follow in the second quarter of 2023.

Food Supply

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the annual survey conducted by the Grocery Code Adjudicator which identified a deteriorating relationship between food suppliers and retailers; and what steps they will take to improve that relationship.

Lord Callanan: The Government has noted the results of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) 2022 Groceries Sector Survey and encourages suppliers to raise concerns about non-compliance with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code), in confidence, with the Adjudicator. The Government is currently undertaking the third statutory review of the effectiveness of the GCA in enforcing the Code and will consider the results of the GCA’s survey as part of the review alongside responses to the public consultation that ended on 11 October. A report on the findings of the statutory review will be published and laid before Parliament in due course.

Arts: Energy Bill Relief Scheme

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Kamall on 20 October (HL Deb col 1167), when they intend to report on their three-month review of the energy bill relief scheme in determining what further support is required for arts and cultural organisations; and which department or organisation will make that report.

Lord Callanan: The results of this Treasury-led review will be published by the end of the year.

Ports: Energy

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publisha national plan to ensure that ports are adequately connected to energy networks, enabling them to develop the infrastructure needed to supply vessels powered by low and net zero emission propulsion fuel and technology.

Lord Callanan: In August 2022, the Government and Ofgem jointly published the Electricity Networks Strategic Framework. This sets out a shared vision for the transformation of the electricity network, that will ensure it can act as an enabler for a clean, secure, low-cost energy system and meet the electrification needs of wider sectors such as heat and transport. Electricity network regulation, including ensuring sufficient investment to deliver the capacity needed to meet demand, is a matter for Ofgem. BEIS and DfT engage with each other regularly to understand the future demand on electricity network capacity and infrastructure not only from supplying vessels powered by low and zero emissions fuels, but also from installing shore power technology for use when a vessel is at berth.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask His Majesty's Government how much consumers were paid back fromrenewable energy schemes signed up to the Contracts for Difference schemes in the two quarters since April this year.

Lord Callanan: Renewable generators signed up to the Contracts for Difference scheme make payments to energy suppliers, rather than directly to consumers.The total CfD payments made to suppliers relating to the last two quarters was:£258,813,576.63.

Department of Health and Social Care

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

Baroness Northover: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 13 October (HL2370), whether the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will provide an update on the progress made inthe areas of mutual interest for cooperation under its Memorandum of Understanding with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on matters of communicable diseases prevention and control.

Lord Markham: These discussions are continuing. However, the United Kingdom has a nominated EpiPulse Focal Point to oversee and manage access as a non-European Union country within the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s (ECDC) co-operation framework. EpiPulse was launched on 22 June 2021 and integrates several surveillance systems, provides new functionalities and access to data in a single platform. The platform facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and connects users from different sectors through which the ECDC aims to strengthen the prevention and control of infectious diseases by enhancing early threat detection and assessment.

Patient Choice Schemes

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of patients who are aware of their right to choose where they receive their consultant-led treatment.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of the e-Referral Services (e-RS) by NHS GPs to support patient choice.

Lord Markham: The Manage Your Referral (MYR) NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) Survey enables patients who have used e-RS for elective referrals for directly bookable services to record their experience of being offered a choice of elective care provider. The MYR e-RS Survey includes a question on whether patients are aware of the choices available to them when attending a first outpatient appointment. In 2021/22, 50% of 7,000 patients surveyed reported that they were aware of the choice of hospitals or clinics for an appointment. The Survey’s results are available to integrated care boards and NHS England to review in order to meet its responsibilities relating to patient choice. Use of the e-RS for referrals from general practitioners for consultant-led first outpatient appointments is mandated in the latest NHS and GP Standard Contracts.

Infectious Diseases: Fungi

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what investment strategy they have devised to address the gap in funding for antifungal development, particularly in light of the World Health Organization (WHO) fungal priority pathogen list.

Lord Markham: The UK Health Security Agency is collaborating with medicinal chemists at the School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kings College London, to develop new antimicrobials with novel modes of action for the World Health Organization’s priority pathogens. A series of compounds which evade efflux-mediated resistance are in development. Early-stage pre-clinical development has gained support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through its Preclinical Services team, for studies on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and efficacy. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the National Institute for Health and Care Research has invested more than £6 million in research into fungal infection.

Infectious Diseases: Fungi

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to stimulate (1) awareness of, and (2) research into, dual use of antifungals in (a) medicine, and (b) agriculture, as well as to engage with relevant stakeholders.

Lord Markham: NHS England’s national pharmacy and prescribing clinical lead is supported by seven regional antimicrobial stewardship leads, which collaborate with stakeholders in infection prevention and control and patient safety and with the Care Quality Commission to mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance, including from dual use of antifungals. The Environment Agency is investigating antifungal resistance in the environment to determine whether particular levels of antifungals in surface waters from releases by agriculture or water treatment may lead to resistance. It is engaging with external bodies including leading United Kingdom universities and the research councils. The UK Health Security Agency is releasing regular reports on fungal infection surveillance and antifungal prescribing data for a selection of fungal pathogens. The Medical Research Council is funding the Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter to undertake research into the use of antifungals in medicine. The Centre will host a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre on clinical mycology and therapeutics to prevent and manage potentially deadly fungal infections. While the NIHR has not supported specific research on dual use of antifungals and it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions, the NIHR has invested more than £6 million in research into fungal infection in the last five years.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have entered negotiations with AstraZeneca in relation to the cost of procuring Evusheld.

Lord Markham: The Department has held regular discussions with AstraZeneca on the potential supply, procurement and cost of Evusheld. The Department continues to explore how further data about Evusheld’s effectiveness can be obtained, including encouraging AstraZeneca to continue discussions with the Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce on the potential for further research. Clinical advisers have recommended a United Kingdom clinical trial to generate sufficient data on Evusheld’s effectiveness against current and future variants, which is under consideration.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to meet with representatives of the 125 expert clinicians from all four nations of the UK covering 17 relevant medical disciplines and advising the APPG Vulnerable Groups to Pandemics on the efficacy of Evusheld.

Lord Markham: The Department has noted the information produced by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vulnerable Groups to Pandemics, including the request for engagement.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the NICE assessment of Evusheld to be completed; and whether, if approved, the treatment will be provided for patients in England this winter.

Lord Markham: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is conducting a Health Technology Evaluation of Evusheld, which will provide guidance on the use of Evusheld in the National Health Service. This evaluation is in development with publication expected in spring 2023. If the NICE recommends its use as a pre-exposure prophylactic is clinically and cost effective, the NHS will make Evusheld available as appropriate.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Baroness Walmsley: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine programme is (1) resilient, and (2) stable, in terms of vaccine supply and product diversity; and whether they will avoid overreliance on one COVID-19 vaccine technology.

Lord Markham: The United Kingdom has received sufficient supply of vaccines to meet the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s current advice for the autumn booster vaccination programme. This includes Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, with Novavax where no other UK-approved COVID-19 vaccine is deemed clinically suitable. These vaccines, which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved for use in the UK, are currently in deployment.The majority of the Government’s contracts with developers contain flexibilities to ensure that the UK can receive updated vaccines being produced, including the recently regulated bivalent mRNA vaccines, which provide broader protection against variants and variant-specific vaccines. We remain in regular contact with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the future supply of vaccines to the UK.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Baroness Walmsley: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timeline for future Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (1) deliberations, and (2) decisions, on the COVID-19 vaccine booster programme; and whether those decisions will be published in full.

Lord Markham: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to monitor COVID-19 epidemiology and evaluate data from the United Kingdom and globally in order to provide advice to the Government on potential vaccination programmes. However, as this is an ongoing process, we are unable to confirm a specific timetable.The minutes of the JCVI’s meetings, where advice to the Government is discussed, is published in an online only format at GOV.UK.

Vaccination

Baroness Walmsley: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to maximize the use of vaccines that are ready to be deployed in England and Wales this winter.

Lord Markham: The United Kingdom’s national immunisation programmes are co-ordinated to improve access at general practices, clinics and pharmacies through working with stakeholders. NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are working with regional teams on communications to support higher vaccine uptake, including under-served communities; people with long term health conditions; and pregnant women. Those eligible for COVID-19 and flu vaccines include people over 50 years old, health and social care workers and those aged from six months for flu and five years old for COVID-19 in the relevant clinical risk groups. The flu vaccine is also being offered to healthy children aged two to 11 years old and some secondary school children. From 5 September to 17 October 2022, over 8.5 million COVID-19 autumn booster doses have been administered in England. We are ensuring that COVID-19 vaccination appointments being offered 3,100 sites, including more than 1,680 community pharmacies and 80 hospital hubs.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Vaccination

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to introduce vaccines forRespiratory Syncytial Virusfor (1) older people, and (2) infants.

Lord Markham: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is aware of a number of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines for older adults in the latter stages of development and ongoing trials for monoclonal antibody passive immunisation for infants. The JCVI is planning a RSV subcommittee where companies will be invited to present the latest clinical trial data. The JCVI will review the latest scientific evidence and evaluate the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of these products and advise the Department on the potential use in the national immunisation programme. The timing and content of the subcommittee meetings will depend on factors including progress towards authorisation for these products by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). However, the first meeting is expected at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023 and will focus on infant immunisation. The MHRA will work with the companies to evaluate the results of the clinical trials once received.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Vaccination

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of clinical trials for vaccines forRespiratory Syncytial Virus for older people.

Lord Markham: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are aware of a number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for older adults in the late stages of development. The JCVI is planning an RSV subcommittee to address older adult and maternal antenatal vaccination and infant immunisation. Companies will be invited to present published and unpublished clinical trial data. The JCVI will review this evidence to evaluate the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of these products on a case-by-case basis and advise the Department on the potential use in the national immunisation programme. The MHRA will work with the companies to evaluate the results of the clinical trials once received.

Water: Sewage

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 13 October (HL2225), which organisation isresponsible for informing (1) commercial fishers, and (2) recreational anglers, about the food safety risks of fish caught in water polluted by sewage outflows.

Lord Markham: Where a local authority is aware of sewage pollution events which occur in its area, it will take action and inform interested parties of potential food safety risks, as needed. The local authority will inform the Food Standards Agency (FSA) if it determines the event presents a serious or widespread risk to public health. In such cases, the FSA will work with the local authority to assess the risks and provide risk management advice and risk assessment where necessary.

Protective Clothing

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Annual report and accounts: 2020–2021, published on 31 January, which stated that “The Department estimates that there has been a loss in value of £8.7 billion of the £12.1 billion of PPE purchased in 2020–21”, whether they will now provide an update of the value of the PPE lost and its causes.

Lord Markham: The most recent estimated value of impairments in personal protective equipment stock is £8.7 billion. We plan to publish an updated estimate in the Department’s 2021/22 Annual Report.

Protective Clothing

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Annual report and accounts: 2020–2021, published on 31 January, which stated that £2.6 billion of procured PPE was “not suitable for use within the health and social care sector but which the Department considers might be suitable for other uses (although these potential other uses are as yet uncertain)”, whether any other uses have been identified; and if so, what these uses are.

Lord Markham: The Department manages stock which is unsuitable for use in certain health and care settings through re-sale, re-purposing and donations domestically and internationally. In addition, the Department is also resolving disputed contracts to enable personal protective equipment to be used, replaced or refunded.

Neurology: Research

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research by scientists at the University of Cambridge Pre-diagnostic cognitive and functional impairment in multiple sporadic neurodegenerative diseases published on 12 October; and what steps they plan to take to support early diagnoses of dementia-related diseases.

Lord Markham: While no specific assessment has been made, we welcome research on the early detection of dementia and neurodegeneration which may enable targeted treatments for those most at risk.In November 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Research issued a £9 million invitation for research proposals on digital approaches to the early detection and diagnosis of dementia. In addition, in 2021/22 we made £17 million available to clinical commissioning groups to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses.

Patients: Attendance

Lord Lipsey: To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of (1) GP surgeries, and (2) hospitals, use text messages to remind patients of appointments.

Lord Markham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Government Counter-Fraud Function’s previous estimate that 57 per cent of COVID-19 expenditure was at ”a high or very high fraud risk”, what is their current estimate of the level of risk surrounding COVID-19 health expenditure.

Lord Markham: We estimate that approximately 49% to 51% of COVID-19 health expenditure is at high or very high level of fraud risk.

Electronic Cigarettes

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of disposable e-cigarettes that have been sold in the last three years.

Lord Markham: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Wheelchairs

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that there is a named minister with responsibility forwheelchair and postural seating services specifically stated in their portfolio.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the annual spend on wheelchair and postural seating services over the last 10 years.

Lord Markham: The Minister of State for Social Care (Helen Whately MP) has Ministerial responsibility for disabilities.From 2015, the former clinical commissioning groups were required to report total expenditure to include assessment, service and equipment provision, repair and maintenance. The following table shows annual reported expenditure on National Health Service wheelchair and postural seating services in England in each year from 2015/16 to 2021/22. Data is not available for 2020/21 as wheelchair services were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and data collection was paused from Quarter 4 2019/20. This also affects the total reported expenditure in 2019/20.2015/16£206,591,040.772016/17£316,185,584.992017/18£323,756,903.842018/19£326,799,889.592019/20£278,109,614.502020/21N/A2021/22£355,300,084.00

Water: Sewage

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 13 October (HL2225), on how manyoccasions the Food Standards Agency was informed of sewage spills in (1) rivers, or (2) inshore waters, in each of the last three years.

Lord Markham: The information requested is shown in the following table.  Incidents in riversIncidents in inshore waters202211202122202014

Ministry of Justice

Marriage: Family Law

Baroness Cox: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Scott of Bybrook on 27 April (HL7850) and the Law Commission report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July, what plans they have for assessing the case for more comprehensive and enduring reform to marriage law once the Law Commission has completed its fundamental review.

Baroness Cox: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the publication of the Law Commission report, Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published on 19 July, what assessment they have made of the Marriage Act 1949 (Amendment) Bill relating to the criminalisation of purporting to solemnise marriages that are not legally registered; and what plans they have to ensure that the Bill is scheduled for a second reading.

Lord Bellamy: Now that the Law Commission has completed its review, we must take the time to consider the recommendations fully. We know that marriage ceremonies occur outside the legal framework for weddings in England and Wales. The Law Commission has carefully considered this in its report. We will set out our position on this issue, and wider marriage reform, within the formal Government response in due course.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nicaragua: Human Rights and Religious Freedom

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what responses they have received, if any, from the government of Nicaragua to the representations they have made about freedom of religion and human rights in that country.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: On 16 June, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement on behalf of the UK at the UN Human Rights Council, during the Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner's report on Nicaragua. Nicaragua publicly rejected the report. We continue to raise the issue on the deteriorating human rights situation regularly with Nicaraguan Government representatives in London, in Managua, at multilateral fora and publicly, including expressing concern about the harassment of the Church and its representatives.

Yazidis: Females

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toensure that perpetrators of (1) sexual violence, (2) forced recruitment, and (3) other crimes against Yazidi women and children, are brought to justice.

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they are providing tosupport the (1) recovery, and (2) reintegration, of the Yazidi community in northern Iraq.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Yazidi community has suffered immense pain and loss as a result of the abhorrent crimes inflicted by Daesh. The UK advocated strongly for the passing of the Yazidi Survivors' Law in March 2021 and continues to advocate for and fund the work of the Directorate of Yazidi Affairs, which is responsible for securing reparations and justice for survivors, including Yazidi child survivors.UK Ministers regularly raise the importance of this issue with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Most recently I raised it with KRG Minister of Religious Affairs in July this year. The UK committed £2 million to the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh (UNITAD) and we continue to champion UNITAD's work in gathering evidence of Daesh crimes to bring perpetrators to account.The UK is hosting an international Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) Conference in London on 28-29 November to galvanise the world into further action to tackle sexual violence in conflict. As a PSVI focus country the conference will shine a light on Iraq and Yazidi survivors of sexual violence, who will feature in a number of programme sessions and artwork displayed across the conference.

Iraq: Bombings

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the recent airstrikes in Sinjar; and what steps they are taking to strengthen the protection of (1) the Yazidi, and (2) other civilians, in the area.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are following closely the situation in northern Iraq. FCDO Ministers and senior officials regularly reiterate to the need for dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians. Our diplomatic missions are in regular contact with Turkish, Government of Iraq and Kurdistan regional Government authorities. Our focus is always on securing an end to violence and protecting civilians. The UK continues to champion on the rights of minorities, including Yazidis, in Iraq, including through working with a wide range of actors to ensure full implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law.

Peter Tatchell

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they will make to (1) FIFA, and (2) the government of Qatar, about (a) the detaining of Peter Tatchellwhile peacefully protesting in Doha, and (b) the lack of LGBT+ rights in Qatar.

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will clarify the remarks made by the Foreign Secretary on 26 October, where he stated that LGBT+ England football fans visiting the World Cup in Qatar "should show a little bit of flex and compromise".

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Staff from our Embassy provided consular support to two British nationals following an incident in Doha on 25 October.Ministers and senior officials have raised the concerns of LGBT+ visitors to the World Cup with Qatari authorities at all levels, and will continue to engage on this issue ahead of the World Cup. They have repeatedly committed that "everybody is welcome". We will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.LGBT+ rights is an issue that the UK prioritises internationally. We continue to engage with governments around the world to promote human rights and champion UK values.

International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Lord Singh of Wimbledon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what wasthe cost of hosting theInternational Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Beliefin July; andwhether any binding commitments were made by participating countries to prohibit discrimination against minority faiths and beliefs.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We anticipate that the total budget for the Conference will be in the region of £3.3million. The Conference explored the many facets of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) through seventeen themed panel sessions and gave a platform to those persecuted for their religion or belief. Forty-seven governments, international organisations and other entities made pledges to take action in support of FoRB. Thirty-four countries joined the UK in signing up to one or more of a set of non-legally binding statements protecting and promoting FoRB for all. The statements and co-signatories are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-ministerial-conference-on-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-2022-conference-statements

Climate Change: International Cooperation

Baroness Sheehan: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking towards establishing a multilateral financing facility to address loss and damage caused by climate change prior to the conclusion of the Glasgow Dialogue in June 2024.

Baroness Sheehan: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, published in February, which concluded that loss and damage from climate change are “not comprehensively assessed” by existing finance mechanisms; and what steps they intend to take in response.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK agrees with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that global action to adapt to the changing climate has been insufficient. We recognise how urgent and important it is to ensure countries most vulnerable to climate change can respond to the risks they face, to help avert and minimise loss and damage.At COP26, the UK strongly supported the establishment of a 'Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage' to discuss the arrangements for the funding of activities to avert, minimise and address loss and damage. The Santiago Network (a platform for catalysing technical assistance on loss and damage for developing countries) was also progressed through agreement on functions and funding. The UK is an active participant in the Glasgow Dialogue and Santiago Network up to COP27 and looking towards COP28.Information on UK action on adaptation, losses and damages is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-action-to-support-countries-avert-minimise-and-address-the-risk-of-loss-and-damage-from-climate-change-discussion-paper. We intend to update this note following COP27.

South Asia: Floods

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of a potential link between recent flooding in areas of South Asia to (1) illegal logging, and (2) deforestation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This flooding demonstrates how climate change is making extreme weather events both more intense and more frequent. It underlines why the UK has committed to double the amount of climate finance to support adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Between 2011 and 2021 UK International Climate Finance supported 88 million people to cope with the impacts of climate change, installed 2,400MW of clean energy which provided 41 million people with improved access, and helped mobilise £8 billion of public and private finance for climate change mitigation in developing countries.

Pakistan: Humanitarian Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will match funds for Pakistan raised by the Disasters Emergency Committee members; and how they will avoid duplication with that committee's members' current support for Pakistani charities.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has provided £16.5 million for the international relief effort, more than ten per cent of the UN appeal total of $160 million. Up to £5 million of the UK funds will go to the central Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. The UK continues to engage with the World Bank and other international organisations to ensure that the UK is supporting global coordination efforts.

Ministry of Defence

China: Armed Forces

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any evidence of BAE Systems being involved with the UK ex-military aircrew flying in China.

Baroness Goldie: While we are aware that a number of the pilots recruited had previously worked in defence industry, we have no reason to believe that any British companies were directly involved in the practice of UK ex-military aircrew flying in China. We have issued an alert to industry to make them aware, requesting that they communicate the threat to their personnel, to ensure that the alert is as widely disseminated as possible to any potential recruitment targets.

Ukraine: Military Aid

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government how many Britishmilitary personnel have been assigned to support the training of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Baroness Goldie: There are currently 1,000 British military personnel assigned to training the Armed Forces of Ukraine under Op INTERFLEX at sites in the UK. Other training is provided on an ad hoc basis with personnel committed accordingly.British military personnel are performing various roles to support the training, including direct instruction, but also providing logistics, medical support, communications, as well as command and control.

Department for Work and Pensions

Migrants: Cost of Living

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what support individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds will be able to access this winter as part of (1) the £11.7 billion Energy Bills Support Scheme, and (2) the wider £37 billion cost of living assistance package for consumers.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The cost-of-living package is in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year. This means that eight million low-income households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.  The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. The Energy Bills Support Scheme is open to all domestic electricity customers, with additional support to eight million low-income households, irrespective of their No Recourse to Public Funds condition.

State Retirement Pensions and Working Age Benefits: Migrants

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds, who have made the necessary national insurance contributions, are in receipt of contributory benefits including (1) contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance, (2) statutory sick pay, and (3) state pension.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department does not hold the requested information.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

River Trent: Nature Reserves

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the partnership between the conservation interests of the RSPB and the business Tarmac in the restoration of reedbeds at Langford Lowfields on the banks of the River Trent; and what steps they are taking to help landowners restore land in similar, environmentally-beneficial ways.

Lord Benyon: HM Government are supportive of environmental partnerships across the public, private and third sectors. With regards to the Langford Lowfields site in particular, Defra group have contributed more directly through Natural England funding. Appetite for new partnerships has been encouraged through regulations driving demand for the ecosystem services that landowners can provide (biodiversity net gain, nutrient neutrality). Partnerships, involving landowners, can receive public funding (such as Environment Land Management schemes and Nature For Climate Funds). Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) will also promote partnership working and collaboration. HM Government is currently working to put in place the national policy framework so that preparation of LNRSs can commence across England.

Plastics: Pollution

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce plastic pollution following the discovery of microplastics in human breast milk.

Lord Benyon: The Government is taking decisive action to reduce plastic pollution. We have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and brought in measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in October 2020. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97% with our five, now ten, pence charge.As set out in the 2022-2023 UK REACH Work Programme available on GOV.UK, we are reviewing intentionally added microplastics and the risks they pose to human health and the environment. The results will help to inform the Government's approach to managing any risks whether through UK REACH or other routes.The recent study that has found microplastic particles in breast milk indicates the potential for low human neonate exposure via breast milk (and the exposure of the mother). However, the small sample size in these studies mean that these results need to be taken as indicative and highlight the need for further research in this area.In 2021, the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) published an overarching statement on potential risks from exposure to microplastics ( https://cot.food.gov.uk/M-statementsandpositionpapers#microplastics(opens in a new tab)). A copy is attached to this answer. The COT made a number of proposals for research priorities to aid risk assessment of microplastics, and concluded that "based on the available data, it is not yet possible to perform a complete assessment for the potential risks from exposure to micro and nanoplastics via the oral and inhalation routes".COT Microplastics Overarching Statement 2021 (pdf, 563.0KB)

Pesticides

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the National Action Plan on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides; and whether those proposals will feed into the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Lord Benyon: The United Kingdom upholds strict food safety, health and environmental standards, and our first priority regarding pesticides is to ensure that they will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. HM Government has an excellent record on the environment enshrined in law in our landmark Environment Act. We are working to publish an updated National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill will enable HM Government, via Parliament, to adopt a home-grown regulatory approach and will make sure that HM Government can amend, repeal or replace retained EU law with domestic legislation which better suits the United Kingdom. Departments, including DEFRA, are already reviewing their Retained EU Law (REUL), and considering whether any changes are required in order to continue delivering their policy objectives. If changes are needed, departments will be able to use legislative powers, including those within the REUL Bill, to do so ahead of the sunset date.

Home Office

Repatriation

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals have sought to return to their country of nationality via the Voluntary Returns Service in each year since 2010; and what was the average period between contacting the service and the individual being returned to their country of nationality in each of those years.

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government, for each year since 2010, (1) how many staff have supported the Voluntary Returns Service, (2) how much the service has cost, and (3) how many complaints about the service were received.

Lord Rosser: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the stories published on the website of the Voluntary Returns Service on 21 October are representative of the experiences most users have with the service.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: Data on the number of voluntary returns is published quarterly at table Ret_01 of the returns summary dataset, which is attached. Data on voluntary returns are subject to upward revision, so comparisons over time should be made with caution. In some cases, individuals who have been told to leave the UK will not notify the Home Office of their departure from the UK. In such cases, it can take some time for the Home Office to become aware of such a departure and update the system. As a result, data for more recent periods will initially undercount the total number of returns. ‘Other verified returns’ are particularly affected by this.Information requested which is not contained within this published data is not routinely captured. To capture numbers would require a manual trawl of data and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.Returns Summary Dataset (xlsx, 61.7KB)

Migrant Workers: Skilled Workers

Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will next ask the Migration Advisory Committee to update the Shortage Occupation List.

Lord Rose of Monewden: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Migration Advisory Committee (1) to review skills shortages in the retail and hospitality sectors, and (2) to make recommendations to Government about potential visa routes for overseas workers to fill vacancies in those sectors.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). We therefore expect the MAC to launch its call for evidence shortly for all sectors- including retail and hospitality – to engage with and respond to.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Sleeping Rough: Veterans

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they have allocated to end veteran rough sleeping before 2025.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Data on households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for England are collected on a quarterly basis and show levels of veteran homelessness are currently low. For January to March 2022, 510 households owed a homelessness duty included a member with a support need due to service in the Armed Forces, which represents less than 1% of all households owed a homelessness duty.All data returns via the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection submitted by local authorities are validated and cross checked and late returns are chased to ensure overall response is as complete and accurate as possible. The department works closely with local authorities to review the quality of submitted data to drive continued improvements.In September 2022 we published our 'Ending Rough Sleeping for Good' Strategy, backed by significant funding. This includes extending our flagship Rough Sleeping Initiative to 2025, so that local areas can provide the tailored support needed to end rough sleeping, including veteran rough sleeping, over the next three years.We are also helping people, including veterans, into longer-term settled accommodation through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.

Homelessness: Veterans

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to improvethe quality of data-gathering on the number of veterans who are (1) homeless, or (2) at risk of homelessness.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Data on households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness for England are collected on a quarterly basis and show levels of veteran homelessness are low.All data returns via the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection submitted by local authorities are validated and cross checked and late returns are chased to ensure overall response is as complete and accurate as possible. The department works closely with local authorities each quarter to review the quality of submitted data to drive continued improvements.

Cabinet Office

Fraud

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government when the (1) 2020–21, and (2) 2021–22, editions of the Cross-Government Fraud Landscape Bulletin were or will be published.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Public Sector Fraud Authority is committed to publishing data promoting transparency and highlighting progress across government to fight fraud against the public sector. Due to a number of factors the publication of the 2020-21 Fraud Landscape Report was delayed. The 2020-21 report has been drafted and will be published shortly.The data for the 2021-22 Fraud Landscape Report has been collected and is currently being analysed. We will be looking to publish this data in a Fraud Landscape Bulletin in 2023.

Government Departments: Finance

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government what was (1) the estimated total amount of fraud and error loss across all government departments, and (2) the breakdown of these losses by each department, in each of the last five years.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Public Sector Fraud Authority uses annual detected fraud figures and fraud estimates from fraud measurement activity to estimate fraud loss across Government. Due to the nature of this work the estimate for fraud and error levels in the public sector are reported retrospectively. From these calculations we estimate that levels are between 0.5-5% of government expenditure. The Public Sector Fraud Authority estimates that for 2020-21 the levels of fraud against the public sector, including tax and welfare, were between £33-55bn.This estimate excludes fraud and error within Covid-19 schemes as fraud measurement activity within these schemes is still ongoing. Some departments have published estimates. However, a full picture of fraud and error levels in COVID-19 schemes is not yet available.Detected fraud figures by department are published annually within the Fraud Landscape Report, this includes 5 year trends for total detected, prevented and recovered fraud and error across government, outside of tax and welfare.The table below shows a departmental breakdown of detected fraud and error over the last available five years, outside of tax and welfare. Figures for 2020-21 will be published shortly in the 2021 Annual Fraud Landscape report.Detected Fraud and ErrorDepartment2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-2020 £m£m£m£m£mBEIS17.6413.98.912.617.8CO0.480.10.10.050.04DCMS0.60.20.750.430.34DEFRA4.037.95.34.19.9DFE5.9914.140.717.221.2DFID5.0518.76.79.115.0DFT4.211213.161.228.4DHSC7.9921.414.39.121.1DIT   0.00.0DLUHC0.250.40.136.30.37DWP*0.60.30.680.270.89FCDO0.39FCO4.890.51.24.12.8HMRC*1.51.71.45.52.2HMT0.220.10.190.00.18HO3.316.76.818.787.4MOD18.2788.6116.960.2172.4MOJ28.7914.10.762.53.5Total103.81300.7207.4227.5360.4*Figures for HMRC and DWP include internal fraud and error only. Tax and Welfare fraud figures are collected and reported separately by HMRC and DWP.

Foreign Policy and Security Council

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: To ask His Majesty's Government what role the Foreign Policy and Security Council will play in co-ordinating inter-departmental collaboration between the Department for International Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Foreign Policy and Security Council is no longer operational. Instead, as set out in its Terms of Reference, the National Security Council, will consider matters relating to trade strategy, amongst other issues including national security and foreign policy. The National Security Council (Europe) will consider matters of trade in relation to Europe.The Cabinet Secretariat continues to support the Prime Minister and the chairs of Cabinet Committees in the conduct of government business, including international trade.The full list of Cabinet Committees is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cabinet-committees-system-and-list-of-cabinet-committees Cabinet Committees List  (pdf, 125.6KB)

King Charles III: Ceremonies

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Neville-Rolfe on 24 October (HL2522), what criteria were used torestrict the number of Privy Councillors eligible to attend the Accession Council on the 10 September to the figure used.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The exact number of Privy Counsellors eligible to be summonsed to the Accession Council on 10th September 2022 was determined in accordance with revised attendance arrangements set out in a letter from the Clerk of the Council to Privy Counsellors in March 2022. The majority of Privy Counsellors were selected on an ex officio basis. In addition, a small number of Privy Counsellors not eligible to attend on an ex officio basis were selected via an annual ballot.

Energy Prices Bill: King's Consent

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord True on 25 October (HL Deb cols 1393-4), why the (1) actual, or (2) potential, business of the King is treated differently from business owned by others.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: It is a longstanding Parliamentary requirement that consent of the Sovereign is required if the bill affects the prerogative of the Crown or the hereditary revenues of the Crown, the Duchy of Lancaster, the Duchy of Cornwall or the personal property or other personal interests of the Crown. It is a procedural requirement and a decision as to whether a Bill requires consent is for the House Authorities.

King Charles III: Ceremonies

Lord Jopling: To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the Privy Council were given an automatic invitation to the Accession Council on the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; and what criteria they used in choosing them.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: A total of 158 Privy Counsellors were eligible on an ex-officio basis to be summonsed to attend the Accession Council on 10th September 2022.The criteria for ex-officio eligibility was based primarily on whether individuals were serving in a senior parliamentary, judicial or Church post at the time of Demise. Privy Counsellors selected using this criteria included the Great Offices and Great Officers of State; Cabinet ministers; the Leader of the Opposition; shadow Cabinet Ministers who are Privy Counsellors; the Archbishops of Canterbury and York; leaders of the political parties in the House of Commons; the First Ministers of the Devolved Governments; the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker; and representatives of the senior judiciary.Former Prime Ministers, former Lord Presidents, former Archbishops, and Privy Counsellors who were formerly leaders of political parties in the House of Commons were also summonsed to attend on an ex-officio basis.

Public Sector: Staff

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the report by the Public Services CommitteeFit for the future? Rethinking the public services workforce (HL Paper 48), published on 19 July.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government issued a response to the report on Monday 7 November.

King Charles III: Ceremonies

Lord Jopling: To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the Privy Council were put into the ballot for the Accession Council on the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; and how many of those entered in the ballot received an invitation.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: All Privy Counsellors who were not eligible to attend the Accession Council on an ex officio basis were invited to apply by ballot for a summons to attend the Accession Council. The ballot was conducted on an annual basis and took place in April 2022. A total of 236 Privy Counsellors chose to apply this year; all of those who applied were entered into the ballot. Thirty summonses were available in this year’s ballot.

King Charles III: Ceremonies

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer fromBaroness Neville-Rolfe on 1 November (HL3037), who at Number 10 was involved in the decision not to summon all Privy Counsellors to the next Accession Council; and what position was held by any such individual at the time.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The decision from Number 10 was made by the Prime Minister in office at the time (The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP).

Treasury

Events Industry: VAT

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Kamall on 20 October (HL Deb col 1168), whether there are ongoing discussions with the arts sector regarding a reduction in VAT on tickets; and what assessment they have made of the effect of such a measure on the sector.

Baroness Penn: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited by both legal and fiscal considerations. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax forecast to raise £154 billion in 2022/23, helping to fund key spending priorities such as important public services, including the NHS and policing. In addition, a request for a VAT cut should be viewed in the context of over £50 billion of requests for relief from VAT received since the EU referendum. Currently, there are no plans to reduce the main rate of VAT on tickets for the art sector. However, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the tax policy making cycle and Budget process.

Office for Budget Responsibility

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have hadwith the Office for Budget Responsibility regarding the upcoming fiscal statement.

Baroness Penn: The Government has a close working relationship with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). For the upcoming fiscal event, the OBR have been engaged in the normal way and there have been regular discussions of the economic and fiscal outlook. The Chancellor met the Budget Responsibility Committee of the OBR on 17 October to discuss their views on the outlook and reaffirmed the need to work collaboratively. As set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury and the OBR, the forecast process involves the OBR producing multiple draft iterations of the forecasts which it shares with the Chancellor. The Government supports the vital, independent role the OBR plays, which give markets, the public, and the world confidence that our economic plans are credible, and rightly holds us to account for delivering them.

Work Permits

Lord Green of Deddington: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact on the trend rate of economic growth of a 50,000 increase in the number of work permits issued per year.

Lord Green of Deddington: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the increase in GDP per headresulting from a 50,000 increase in the number of work permits if, on average, 90 per cent of applicants continue to be accompanied by one dependant.

Baroness Penn: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility provides forecasts of the overall impact on economic growth of government policy, including those resulting from immigration policy. The next forecast will be provided on the 17th of November alongside the Autumn Statement. It is not appropriate to provide commentary on specific scenarios, but the government does consider relevant impacts in assessing potential changes to immigration policy.

Debts: Advisory Services

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have toensure that public advice services for (1) individuals, and (2) households, struggling with debt are able to meet demand.

Baroness Penn: The Government recognises the vital role that advice services play in helping people in problem debt and vulnerable circumstances. To help people in problem debt, the Government continues to maintain record levels of funding for free-to-client debt advice in England, bringing the 2022-23 debt advice budget for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to over £90 million. MaPS is the single largest funder of debt advice in England. It works alongside partners across the UK to make debt advice easier and quicker to access, and to improve standards and quality across the sector.MaPS recently concluded a debt advice commissioning exercise with the primary aim of increasing the volume of debt advice available, as well as ensuring that such advice meets clients’ needs and proactively targets vulnerable and underrepresented groups. These contracts, once signed, will be starting from 1 February 2023. To help people access debt advice, MaPS launched MoneyHelper in 2021, a consumer-facing service which provides free and impartial guidance for people across the UK. This includes budget planning and bill prioritiser tools, practical tips for engaging with creditors and a Debt Advice Locator Tool, which helps people find free, high-quality debt advice in their local area or via the telephone and online. MaPS has also developed the Money Advisor Network pilot which enables a range of organisations including Job Centre Plus, local authorities and financial service providers to refer people for free to MaPS funded debt advice. The individuals referred can either proceed immediately to debt advice, request a call-back at a more convenient time or schedule an in-person appointment.

Economic Growth

Lord Green of Deddington: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a targetfor increasing the trend rate of economic growth; and if so, what it is.

Baroness Penn: The Government is committed to sustainable economic growth within a stable macro-economic environment. The Government will set out the approach to growth policy at the Autumn Statement on the 17th November.

Economic Growth

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase economic growth.

Baroness Penn: The Government remains committed to boosting economic growth as the route to raising the prosperity of people across the UK. It continues to develop and deliver growth enhancing policies that ensure the UK has the right skills, high quality infrastructure and support for firms to innovate and invest. The Chancellor has announced the Autumn Statement will be delivered on 17 November. This will contain the UK’s medium-term fiscal plan, which will include an assessment of UK growth, and will be accompanied by an OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook. This will set out the Government’s approach to business support.

Mortgages: Interest Rates

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support homeowners with rising mortgage rates.

Baroness Penn: Around 75% of residential mortgage borrowers are on fixed-rate deals and are therefore shielded from interest rate rises in the short term. It is also worth noting that lenders are required to stress test all new prospective borrowers’ ability to continue repaying their mortgage under higher interest rates. However, the Government has already taken immediate action to help households through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme. This is in addition to the £37 billion of targeted support for the cost of living this financial year. When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, Financial Conduct Authority guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government has also taken a number of measures aimed at helping people to avoid repossession, including Support for Mortgage Interest loans for those in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders.

Business: Government Assistance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce new business support packages; and what financial resources they will make available.

Baroness Penn: The Government recognises the challenges faced by people across the UK due to rising living costs. This is why the Government is helping all eligible UK businesses with their energy bills through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The Chancellor has announced the Autumn Statement will be delivered on 17 November. This will contain the UK’s Medium-Term Fiscal Plan and will be accompanied by an OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook. This will set out how the government will further support businesses. We have brought forward a number of measures to support businesses this year, including extending the Recovery Loan Scheme until June 2024; freezing the business rates multiplier for 2022-23; cutting business rates by 50% for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in 2022-23 up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business; and permanently setting the Annual Investment Allowance at its highest ever level of £1 million from 1 April 2023.

Economic Growth: Railways

Lord Snape: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still plan to (1) level up, (2) decarbonise, and (3) grow the economy; and what part they envisage the railway industry can play in realising such intentions.

Baroness Penn: The Government remains committed to boosting trend growth as the route to raising living standards and delivering high quality public services across the whole of the UK. The Government is also committed to tackling climate change and delivering on our obligations to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. The Chancellor has announced the Autumn Statement will be delivered on 17 November. This will contain the UK’s medium-term fiscal plan, which will include an assessment of UK growth, and will be accompanied by an OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The Government recognises the rail network's important role in improving connectivity, empowering regional economies and driving growth. The Government is committed to maintaining, renewing and enhancing the rail network. In the Transport Decarbonisation Plan the Government committed to delivering a net zero rail network by 2050.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Museums and Galleries: Fuel Poverty

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help enable (1) museums, and (2) libraries, to act as warm hubs during the coming winter.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has announced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme to support non-domestic energy users (including museums and libraries) with increased energy prices. The support provides a discount on gas and electricity unit prices, applied to energy usage initially between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. That will support museums and libraries to provide heating to people who visit this winter, but no separate support is being provided specifically to enable the sectors to act as warm hubs.Public libraries are run by local authorities, as are some museums. In these cases it will be for each local authority to identify the needs of local residents and to make decisions about the use of these community assets to meet those needs, including the provision of warm hubs.

Gambling: Students

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support students who have online problem gambling issues.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: A variety of initiatives are in place across the gambling regulatory framework, health services, and the educational curriculum to protect young people, and the wider public, from harmful gambling and to raise awareness of its risks.The Gambling Commission requires all gambling operators to make information available to customers on how to gamble safely and how to access information on problem gambling and the support available. Most operators direct people to the charity GambleAware’s begambleaware.org site, which contains a wide range of information for everyone on risks, as well as links to advice and support, including the 24-hour National Gambling Helpline. The NHS webpage 'Help for problem gambling' also covers common indicators which suggest that people may be experiencing harmful gambling, as well as advice and links to treatment services.In addition, support is provided specifically for children and young people. To prevent children and young people from suffering gambling-related harm later in life, since 2020 children have been taught about the risks relating to gambling, including the accumulation of debt, as part of the statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum in England. The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust charity provides free training for university staff and students’ unions and maintains a bespoke student website dedicated to help protect university students and young people from gambling harm.In 2019, DCMS secured a commitment from industry to contribute £100 million over four years to problem gambling treatment. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are also continuing work to improve and expand specialist treatment services, with up to 15 new NHS clinics set to open by 2023/24.His Majesty’s Government is closely considering the protections in place for children and young adults as part of the scope of its wide-ranging Review of the Gambling Act to ensure they are fit for the digital age. A White Paper setting out our next steps and proposals for reform will be published in the coming weeks.

Digital Technology: Northern Ireland

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to promote the digital economy in Northern Ireland.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: In 2021, His Majesty’s Government and the Northern Ireland Executive signed the first ever City Deal for Northern Ireland. The Belfast Region City Deal unlocks £1 billion of transformative joint investment which will deliver more than 20 highly ambitious projects and programmes, create up to 20,000 new and better jobs, and help make the region a global centre of innovation.Northern Ireland has 86% gigabit-capable coverage*, the best connectivity out of all the home nations of the UK, which will likely improve with the £5 billion investment in Project Gigabit. Additionally, our work with the Department for the Economy on Project Stratum has improved broadband connectivity for 50% of target premises as of September. The Northern Ireland Gigabit Open Market Review is scheduled to launch in early Autumn 2022.BDUK has worked with the Department for Economy and the Local Authorities on Full Fibre Northern Ireland to deliver connectivity to over 887 buildings with investment of over £24 million from His Majesty’s Government. Connectivity upgrades to 199 buildings were achieved by Belfast City Council with a grant of £9.3 million.His Majesty’s Government is committed to investing in the skills of people of Northern Ireland and promoting Northern Ireland’s potential as a leader in innovative technologies. The Cyber Explorers scheme supports 11–14 year-olds to boost their understanding and interest in a career in cyber. In addition, Cyber Runway provides business skills, product development, connections and mentoring to UK cyber companies at three stages of the business lifecycle: Launch, Grow and Scale. Cyber Runway is delivered in partnership with the Centre for Secure Information Technologies in Belfast and an event will be held in the city in November 2023 to support the local economy.DCMS is supporting businesses across the UK through investment. The £12 million Digital Growth Grant will support companies across the UK to access finance and business advice through tailored growth programmes and events. In addition, the £2.6 billion UKSPF fund encourages areas across the UK to consider interventions to support and grow their local tech ecosystems.The creative industries are also major players in the digital economy, with inward investment reaching nearly £1 billion in 2020. To help support these businesses, DCMS is providing nearly £50 million in support for the creative industries across the UK, including the £8 million UK Games Fund (UKGF) and £21 million UK Global Screen Fund that will promote investment in innovative creative businesses. The UKGF provides grant support to early-game stage games development companies across the UK, including in Northern Ireland.Furthermore, the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Creative Clusters Programme supports local businesses in the Northern Ireland screen sector to innovate and drive investment. It is called Future Screens Northern Ireland and is run by a consortium of higher education institutes, industry partners, and public organisations.*(ThinkBroadband, August 2022)